Author Archives: Nancy Pinard

About Nancy Pinard

Professionally-speaking, Nancy Pinard is an author-educator who spends her days writing, teaching, reading, and researching for her writing and teaching. She is the author of two published novels, Shadow Dancing and Butterfly Soup, and numerous short stories. She has taught the craft of fiction writing in many venues including Sinclair Community College, University of Dayton Life-Long Learning Institute, Antioch Writers' Workshop, Mad Anthony Writers' Workshop, and Molasses Pond Writers' Workshop. Personally, her faith is what sustains, inspires, and motivates her to continue to explore meaning through literature. "You are right in demanding that an artist approach his work consciously, but you are confusing two concepts: the solution of a problem and the correct formulation of a problem. Only the second is required of the artist." — Anton Chekov to Alexei Suvorin, October 27, 1888

What is truth?

Posted on 17. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

I don’t mean to sound like Pontius Pilate, here. Instead, I’m inspired by Allen Esterson’s comments on several posts (see A Possible Frame for the Novel, The Mileva Maric Controversy, and Regarding Lieserl) to think about the possible similarities and … Continue reading →

Posted in Research methods, writing | 8 Comments

An Einstein Hiatus

Posted on 16. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

I heard from my agent about the Darwin novel, who asked me if I might write an epilogue.  One occurred to me immediately, a scene that took place twelve years after the publication of Origin.  Consequently, I’m back looking at … Continue reading →

Posted in Darwin, Einstein, Research methods, writing | 1 Comment

A Post-marriage Love Letter from Einstein to His Wife

Posted on 9. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

At the time of this letter, Mileva Maric-Einstein (nicknamed Dollie to his Johnnie) is newly pregnant with her second child and in Budapest, likely to deal with something about Lieserl, the illegitimate daughter born to the two.  Considering the marriage … Continue reading →

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Physics and Me

Posted on 8. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

I took no formal physics classes in high school, so it feels intimidating to take on a book about the greatest physicist of the 20th century.  But the more I read, the more I realize that I was unwittingly toying … Continue reading →

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Novelists Who “Borrowed” Darwin and Einstein

Posted on 8. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

Darwin, an invalid, went frequently to various water cure establishments where he repeatedly encountered the same fellow clients.  One such, Georgiana Craik, was a novelist of the sentimental romantic genre that Darwin himself preferred.  While Georgiana never used Darwin in … Continue reading →

Posted in Darwin, Einstein | 1 Comment

Darwin’s Method vs. Einstein’s

Posted on 2. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

As my novel about Charles Darwin’s family goes to market, I’m thinking about the differences in the two men’s methodology. Darwin was an experimental biologist, such that his home, Down House, was filled with tanks of salt water, plants that … Continue reading →

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Darwin’s Method vs. Einstein’s

Posted on 2. October 2010 by Nancy Pinard

As my novel about Charles Darwin’s family goes to market, I’m thinking about the differences in the two men’s methodology. Darwin was an experimental biologist, such that his home, Down House, was filled with tanks of salt water, plants that … Continue reading →

Posted in Darwin, Einstein, writing | 1 Comment

Imagining a Lost Letter

Posted on 20. September 2010 by Nancy Pinard

Mileva Maric was a brilliant, disciplined student.  Unlike Einstein, she actually attended class, took notes, studied all night.  Her roommates, other female Eastern European students who also lived at 50 Pattenstrasse, reported that her light would go out briefly for … Continue reading →

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What Is Schizophrenia, Anyway?

Posted on 17. September 2010 by Nancy Pinard

No, Einstein was not schizophrenic. But his son, Eduard was. And Mileva’s sister. I have media-inspired notions of schizophrenia, such as from the movie A Beautiful Mind, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but wasn’t sure how a visual … Continue reading →

Posted in Einstein's children, family members, Mileva Maric, writing | 4 Comments

The Method, So Far

Posted on 14. September 2010 by Nancy Pinard

The biography reading is so extensive, it would be easy to digest entire volumes and have no clue where anything is. That’s what an index is for, of course, and they are blessedly helpful. When I researched the Darwin book, … Continue reading →

Posted in Darwin, Einstein, Research methods, writing | 4 Comments